Travelers pull out win against Black Sox

Wednesday

Jun 19, 2013 at 10:40 AMJun 19, 2013 at 11:06 AM

By Rob Roossports@sooeveningnews.com

SAULT STE. MARIE — Kolbe Peller hit a ground ball to the right side of the infield to drive in Luke Steikar with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning as the EUP Travelers pulled out a 7-6 win over the Soo Black Sox Tuesday at James Field.

The lead changed eight times in a tightly contested Great Lakes League baseball game.

The Travelers (3-5), have won two of their last three games after a 1-4 start.

"We were due," Travelers coach Billy Mitchell said. "We've already lost four games where we had the lead in the last inning. Those are tough ones to lose. Tonight we were on the other end of it and got the win, so hopefully it's a step in the right direction."

Jacob Casey had a single, double and three RBIs for the Travelers. Tyler Kirkland also had two hits and Devon Dear hit a double among the EUPs 10 hits. Michael James, Frank Bailey, Lou Krupa, Steikar and Peller also had hits.

Casey's single drove in one run and another scored on a wild pitch to give the EUP a 6-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning.

But the Black Sox rallied with two runs of their own in the top of the seventh to tie the game 6-6.

Steikar walked to lead off the bottom of the seventh and stole second. He advanced to third on a sacrifice fly by Dakota Zuhlke, and scored on Peller's fielder's choice.

Both teams used four pitchers. Zuhlke pitched the final three innings and collected the win. He was charged with five runs, although only one run was earned, striking out three and walking two.

Jake Harrison pitched the first two innings and gave up one run on three hits, while striking out two. Brady VanSloten and Frank Bailey also pitched one inning apiece and did not allow any hits or runs.

"I've been thinking of using Zuhlke as our closer," Mitchell said. "He hasn't pitched many innings yet this season and I'd like to get him out there more. We tried to get a few different guys some innings tonight. We'll need pitching depth at the Escanaba tournament this weekend."

The Black Sox took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Travelers scored one run in the second, fourth, and fifth to lead 3-1. Both teams scored three in the sixth inning.

"It started out as a pitcher's duel but got very offensive at the end," Black Sox coach Mike Lebel said. "We beat the Travelers twice and in both games we came from behind. I thought we were going to do it again, but give them credit."It had the (back-and-forth) feel of an NBA game," Lebel said. "Which had me worried because I knew they had the last shot."

Brandon Dewar had two hits and one RBI, while Adam Bouillion had a double and two RBIs for the Black Sox (6-16).

"The Black Sox always battle against us," Mitchell said. "That's what we expect from a Mike Lebel-coached team."

The Travelers received the 2012 Great Lakes Baseball League trophy Tuesday. League Commissioner and Black Sox coach Mike Lebel presented the trophy to Travelers coach Billy Mitchell. The seven team league includes the EUP, Soo Black Sox, Mancelona, Alpena, Petoskey, Benzie and Gaylord-Lewiston.

The Travelers and Black Sox are both scheduled to compete at the Gregg Johnson Memorial Tournament in Escanaba and Gladstone, starting Friday. The Travelers play at Gladstone 5:30 Friday.